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BOSTON - People who lost loved ones or were injured in the 2013 Boston Marathon bombings are clamoring for justice as jury selection gets underway in one of the nation's most closely watched federal death penalty cases in two decades.

It's a fact that surfaces in drug prevention programs, pop culture references and academic studies - one that makes church-going parents breathe sighs of relief and youth group leaders pat themselves on the back.

However imperceptibly, rites of passage change us, preparing us for new opportunities in life. Here are just a few rites of passage, both painful and joyous, that are requisite in parenthood. Which of these events have you gone through, and which do you have to look forward to?

Mr. and Mrs. Abb Dan Johnson Jr. of Twin City are proud to announce the engagement and forthcoming marriage of their daughter, Ansley Leigh Johnson, to Carson Hugh Smith, son of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Edwin Smith Jr. of Vidalia.

EDDYVILLE, Ky. - Sailor Gutzler, the 7-year-old girl who survived a plane crash, walked a mile through the cold, dark woods to safety and then helped authorities locate the wreckage and remains of her family, may not be done helping investigators.

Fireworks and sparkling grape juice, off-key "Auld Lang Syne" tunes, a large falling ball, horns and hugs and kisses ushered in a new year. Do you have dreams and hopes for 2015? Whatever your plans for the new year, make family and loved ones a priority with lots of special time and celebrations to treasure for much longer than 365 days.

One of the more popular shows currently on the small screen is "American Pickers," starring business partners Mike Wolfe and Frank Fritz. They travel the country in their large van, searching through barns, back yards - literally anywhere they can find old pieces of what most would call junk but that they think they can sell in their two Antique Archaeology stores. I could be wrong, but it seems a safe bet that neither Mike nor Frank got very excited as kids about Christmas or birthday parties, as both normally include gifts that are new rather than old.

A reader writes that her friends "recently spent around $300 on their daughter's birthday party - her first. They bought lots of stuff to entertain their young guests and extended family. The child, a baby, obviously had no clue what was going on. I should mention that the parents are struggling to make ends meet." She asks for my take on this.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Treon Harris threw an 86-yard scoring pass to Ahmad Fulwood and Vernon Hargreaves III intercepted a pass in the end zone late to preserve Florida's 28-20 victory over East Carolina on Saturday in the Birmingham Bowl.